Behind the Lens

Shooting hip-hop videos in Des Moines may not seem like much, but it led Hoodwill Gunting to Lebanon.

Cole Norum knows what to do with a camera—at least his alter ego does. As “Hoodwill Gunting” the Des Moines native has carved out a niche as a hip-hop video director, turning boat rides, walks in the park and games of laser tag into acts of swagger. He put all that on hold this summer to head to Lebanon to shoot videos for YES Academy, a summer arts program that brought American music education to the heart of the Middle East. Cole says all the opportunities he’s received to this point in his life are thanks to staying in the Midwest.